by sheer strength; by brute force
habit; behavior; behaviour; trait
reservation; appointment; contract; subscription; programming (e.g. a device); setting (e.g. a timer)
immersing oneself in; being absorbed in; devoting oneself to; giving oneself up entirely to
unity; union; solidarity; combination; banding together; teaming up
happy family get-together
to seclude oneself; to shut oneself away
during imprisonment; while in jail
a little late; somewhat late; latish; a little slow; somewhat slow
drinking (sometimes esp. alcohol); drink; drinking party
basking in the sun; sunbathing
sunlight; rays of the Sun
to decide (e.g. an outcome); to dictate; to determine
to be main; to be principal; to be important
what time; (lit.) which hour
to crack a joke; to tell a joke
great success; huge success
within the family; in the home; domestic
discord; trouble; dissension; disagreement; friction; conflict
suspicion will raise bogies; once you suspect something, everything else will look suspicious; jumping at shadows
to have a meal together; to sit at table
topic of discussion; agenda
justification; positioning; alignment
approval; agreement; support; favour; favor
to abate; to decrease; to diminish; to shorten
separate; respective; different
noise (usu. unpleasant); interference (e.g. radio); static; gossip; irresponsible criticism
disturbance of sleep; nuisance in the middle of the night
poor health; ill health; unhealthy
to probe someone's real intentions; to sound someone out; to try to fathom someone's thoughts
nine parts; ninety percent; mostly; nine percent
solely; entirely; only; sharing; together
burden; load; responsibility; bearing (a cost, responsibility, etc.); shouldering
conditional; qualified; with conditions attached
anti-; antithesis; fanqie; traditional Chinese spelling system in which two characters are used: the first one for the onset, the second one for rhyme and tone
admission (to a society, club, etc.); joining; entrance; enrollment; enrolment; becoming a member
independence of will or action; self-direction; autonomy; initiative; identity
to cling to ... in tears; to beg ... in tears; to appeal; to throw oneself on someone's mercy